Printer and Printer Control Method for Resuming Printing Operation Following an Out of Paper Error

1. A printer comprising: a data receiving unit for receiving data sent from a host computer; a data transmission unit for sending data to said host computer; a receive buffer for temporarily storing data received by said data receiving unit; an interpreting unit for interpreting data stored in said receive buffer; a print buffer for storing a print image generated in response to print data among said data stored in said receive buffer; a print mechanism for printing said print image stored in said print buffer; a detecting unit for detecting an out-of-paper error; and a control unit for controlling said data receiving unit, said data transmission unit, said receive buffer, said interpreting unit, said print buffer, and said print mechanism; wherein said control unit is adapted, in response to the out-of-paper error detected by the detecting unit, to stop printing, to clear said data in said receive buffer, to send said out-of-paper error and a printing stop report to said host computer while keeping the printer on-line; wherein said control unit is further adapted to clear said receive buffer again in response to a clear buffer command which is sent from the host computer in response to the out-of-paper error, to send a buffer clearing completion report to said host computer after receiving said clear buffer command, and to print based on print data received from said host computer after said buffer clearing completion report is sent.

2. The printer as described in claim 1 , wherein said control unit is adapted to clear said receive buffer and said print buffer when said out-of-paper error occurs and printing stops, and to clear said print buffer again in response to said clear buffer command which is sent from the host computer in response to the out-of-paper error.

3. A method of controlling a printer communicatively connected to a host computer and having a receive buffer for temporarily storing data received from the host computer, and a print buffer for storing a print image generated in response to print data among the data stored in said receive buffer, the method comprising the steps of: a) detecting an out-of-paper error and, in response to the out-of-paper error, stopping printing, clearing the receive buffer, and sending said out-of-paper error and a printing stop report to a host computer while keeping the printer-on line; b) detecting reception of a clear buffer command which is sent from said host computer in response to the out-of-paper error, after the detection in step a); c) clearing said receive buffer again in response to the clear buffer command detected in step b); d) sending a buffer clearing completion report to said host computer after receiving said clear buffer command; and e) printing based on print data received from said host computer after said buffer clearing completion report is sent.

4. The method as described in claim 3 , further comprising a step of: f) clearing the print buffer when said out-of-paper error occurs and printing stops, and then clearing said print buffer again in response to said clear buffer command which is sent from the host computer in response to the out-of-paper error.